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Upland Biological Clock
Current Upland Bird Information
 From
mid- to late summer, ruffed grouse forage over an area ranging from 14 to
44 acres, according to studies. Occasionally the ranges of different broods
overlap, and when this occurs, some chicks actually switch broods. Studies
at the Cloquet research center in Minnesota indicate that chicks can survive
without the hens after the chicks are 8 weeks old. During this period, ruffed
grouse grow fairly quickly, reaching, in the case of young hens, the size
of their mothers at age 16 weeks. At this time, young male ruffed grouse
are similar in size to their fathers, or even larger. Soon, beginning in
September across North America’s ruffed grouse range, young families
begin to disperse, which happens essentially as two events. Initially, young
grouse move away from their families, followed by the young birds flying
toward what for them is entirely new territory.
Source: "Grouse of the North Shore" by Gordon Gullion
Waterfowl Biological Clock
Current waterfowl Bird Information
 Now,
as autumn approaches, family flights of mallards take on a more
recognizable look. More daring than ever, young birds begin to
fly from their home range, and will even join other ducks in flight.
Have completed their molting, the adult drakes return to their
families. What makes mallards so wary during the coming migration
is unclear. Certainly young birds are less so, and on the opening
days of hunting season can be easily decoyed. But older mallards
are known for their ability to size up a situation continually
before landing, their necks craning, looking for anything suspect.
Indeed, some of the best hunting of these birds occurs late in
fall. In eastern Montana, this often happens when the Yellowstone
River freezes up, concentrating birds on other, open rivers. In
the Dakotas and parts of Minnesota, the best hunting often is found
in harvested corn fields. There the big birds often can be tricked
into landing amid decoys propped among waste grain. Either way,
come fall, with mallards young and old in flight, the migration
is a wonder to behold.
Source: "Mallards,’’ by Scott Nielsen
Reports
The following reports are available for viewing or download in
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. The free Acrobat Reader can be downloaded
here if you don't already have it.
From the Arkansas Wildlife Federation
From the Department of Ecology, Montana State University.
From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. |
